Star Wars - Edge of the Empire

The Big Heist

The Race is finished with Kruas and Guffy the winners of the Cloud City Grand Prix. The final bid has been placed at the Gala Auction with Vorse Tabarith winning the Jewel of Chandrila and now the heist for the JEWEL OF CHANDRILA is on…

Meeting back at the warehouse hideout on the Industral district, the spacers move on their plans to slice the winning bid and steal the jewel from the museum. First Guffy and Gunsha make their way to the docks and kidnap a G-100 Remote Banking Droid and bring it back to the warehouse using the restraining bolt they acquired earlier. Guffy manages to open the droid’s casing to allow Gunsha to access the droids systems.

The first attempt to slice the system fails, but Gunsha manages to establish a backdoor back into the system and the second attempt succeeds with the full transfer of credits into the account that Arrend Shen created. The group begins to speak about how to dispose of the droid. The banking droid attempts to convince them that he is valuable enough to take off world and sell, but the logistics of taking the droid prove to complicated with the plan and after too long a time then it should take, the armored droid is destroyed.

The spacers gather the gear, find an access port and stealthy begin the climb up to the plaza district from Port Town. They take their time making there way to the central wind corridor of Cloud City, sometimes unsuccessfully dodging the debris coming down the shoot.

As they near the top some movement catches their eye. Tucked into a crevice along the side of the gantry about 20 feet above, they spot a number of small furry bodies. Winged creatures not more then a foot long from their wide snouts to their feathered tails. The creatures seem mainly docile, but some of them take flight, posturing with open maws and needle like teeth bared as their wings stretch open. Guffy recognizes them as rawwks, and warns of their stun screech. While attempting to move around them, they attack, but are quickly disposed of.

From the central wind corridor it’s just another short climb up into the garbage chute into the museum. The spacers climb out into the janitorial closet. Gunsh activates the com jammer and Aanchi moves out first toward the auction room with the jewel, but her story of being a guest locked in the closet goes unheard. At first site of Greyson’s private security force open fire on her. She ducks it and they seal the doors to the room. Quickly the spacers act. Gunsha first moves in on the security droid in the central chamber of the museum. He devastates the droid with his vibroaxe. And the four security guards are taken out quickly as well. They collect the riot guns and snare launcher from the fallen and Gunsha uses the electronic lock breaker to open one of the doors to the auction room.

In the room, they open the door via the controls and attack the two guards, taking them down quickly, but the third that was there is no where to be seen. Striking from the shadows the Defel leader stabs Aanchi in the back, paralizing her left leg from nerve damage.

The others drop him and make a move for the jewel. The electro railing activates and Gunsha disables it with a few blasts from the ion gun. They slowly take the jewel from its plinth, but no further security measure activates.

They grab the jewel, deactivate and delete the camera system, and make their way back toward the garbage chute. Standing in the doorway to the janitorial closet is a woman and Aanchi knows her. Though not dressed in the fine clothes and now with a look of cool determination instead of the blank stare she exhibited before – Elaiza, the mysterious older bidder stands dressed in simple brown robes.

“Please, there is no need for violence between us. I’m sure that gem you carry will bring you a rich haul of credits, and I can not compensate you for that loss, but I must ask you hand it over to me” The spacers, especially Aanchi, will hear nothing of it. They need the jewel to get paid, why should they hand it over. “I am dedicated to bringing the values of truth and peace to the galaxy once more, but I cannot stand against my enemies unarmed. That gem will enable me confront those who would seek to enslave the galaxy using hatred and fear” The argument doesn’t sway the spacers and with a forceful influence over Gunsha convinces him to pull it out and hand it over. The others attempt to stop him, but Elaiza uses the force to tug it from his hand.

Aanchi reasons with the Jedi that they will help her, but they need the jewel first. The woman reluctantly hands it over and then the alarms start. The Jedi runs for the chute and leaps in. Behind them in the auction room, the electro railing has reactivated. Gunsha runs to the console, but can’t stop the alarm. He does manage to change the alarm to read as a fire instead of a break in, and the spacers escape down the chute as well.

They comm Arend Shen, who tells them to stay put, he’ll divert attention away and send an automated speeder. The moments stretch, but finally it arrives. They pile in, but notice something is amiss. The speeder takes them out over the clouds away from the city. Gunsha examines some loose wire hanging from the console to find a bomb ticking down it’s final minute….

The Cloud City Grand Prix and Gala Auction

The Cloud City Grand Prix is just hours away! While Kraus and Guffy stay in the plaza district and Aanchi and Gunsha wonder what’s become of their companions – Xagrab prowls the streets ducking the pursuit of the Bespin Wing Guard.

He’s managed to stay just a step ahead of the authorities but has noticed more and more guards as the night has grown to morning. In the already densely packed crowds of the Market District, Xagrab looks for a place to hide from a trio of Wing Guards as they scan the traffic just ahead…

In between two market stalls, a young human stands outside an ally flipping a cred chip. “Hey, pal, looks like you had a long night” He glances ahead a the Wing Guards. “And it ain’t over yet – maybe I could help” He catches the chip and folds the metal like it was paper then unfolds it just as easy. “Come on over here – meet a friend of mine”

In the ally an armored figure emerges from the shadows. Dressed in laminate armor – all black with the exception of 3 claw marks running down the shoulder painted red and a tattered cloak hanging off him. His face is obscured by a helmet reminiscent of an old Clone Trooper also painted black and augmented with an external rebreather and carries a massive blaster rifle, but does not have it raised in threat.

Later, security doors slide out of the way with a barley audible hiss, and Kraus and Guffy find themselves staring into a snug vehicle berth. There are a verity of tools and equipment strewn about a Storm IV cloud car in the familiar two cockpit formation. There airspeeder is painted the same red orange hue as those utilized by the city’s Wing Guard, and could easily pass for the real thing.

After a little time assessing the craft they hear a whistle coming from the door. Looking back they see Ol’ Sav, the grizzled mechanic from the Podracer’s Retirement. “Got yourselves a classic model there. Just came by to see if you boys were actually racing consit’ring just a few days ago you hadn’t flown one these.” After a little talk he’s charmed into helping them do some last minute modifications. “Heh, looks like I’ll be working this years race after all”

Meanwhile, Aris has cleared the apartment with the Wing Guard on alert for Xagrab and given Aanchi and Gunsha the location of the berth where the cloud car is stored. She informs them she’ll be indisposed the rest of the day with the race and the auction. She has an abandoned warehouse in the Industrial district in the lower levels where everyone is to meet after the auction. Aanchi heads to meet Mil Mikker at his private viewing box and Gunsha heads to the warehouse to get set up for the slicing job. He taps into the race’s camera feed and comms of cloud car to help assist Kraus and Guffy along the way.

With the modifications finished and the racers in position the Cloud City Grand Prix begins to fanfare. The racers rocket off the starting line at Cloud City and Bespin’s endless skies loom ahead. Guffy and Kraus head toward the beep on the console indicating the first race marker buoy, though its nearly drowned out by the overwhelming whirr of cloud cars jostling for position. After passing the first few markers, Guffy and Kraus punch it taking the lead.

The 3rd buoy disappears behind them at tremendous speed and enormous clouds obscure ahead. Soon a large number of small black dots appear, moving slower then them but still at high speed. Overtaking them quickly, the racers are surprised to discover that they are life forms of some sort. Large insect like creatures flying on two sets of wings somersault desperately trying to avoid their path. Guffy recognizes them as Tibannucks, a potential sentient species. They manage to avoid hitting any of the creatures and pass the next maker, but other racers aren’t so lucky.

With the ranks of strange creatures behind them, Gunsha informs them they have another obstacle ahead. He barely has time to tell them before the blots appear on their sensors and their speed hurtles them into a horde of massive beldons drifting slowly through the clouds. Numerous pleasure craft hoover outside the race boundaries observing the creatures and the race, and though the Kruas and Guffy manage to avoid a collision, crowd favorites The Stormhawks careen off the track into the crowd outside the bounds.

The 5th marker disappears behind the racers and the sensor array is already pinging the distant 6th. Finally free of the territory of the native life forms the sky seems clear, almost tranquil, until a well aimed blaster shot streaks bright and hot across the starboard bow.

The Carbine team has closed the distance and is hot on the heals of Kraus and Guffy. Unable to return fire, Kruas manages to push it a little faster getting out of the range of fire and passes the next maker. The blaster fire still comes though not as close but it now possesses a different danger. The air ignites in front of them as Gunsha informs them of the gas pockets seeded by race officials. The racers hit one of the pockets but ride it out and the explosion takes out another race team behind them.

The field has thinned significantly by the time they pass the 7th buoy and into clear sky. The haze from the gas pockets has lifted and the danger of volatile gasses has passed. Only a few moments into this region, they sensors scream to life, singling numerous starship sized objects inbound at high speeds. Velkers descend on racers. Guffy manages to hold them back with blaster fire as Kraus avoids them, but some racers aren’t able to keep away from the gaping maws of the predators.

Less then half the racers who started pass the last buoy, having been disable by the obstacles along the path or lost to accidents. Sensors indicate the finish line is the next checkpoint though still quite a ways off. The last stretch of the race is upon them, when suddenly a cloud car comes streaking the wrong way up the track. Nothing on senors indicate it ahead – it’s jamming the racers. Gunsha informs them of the race announcers claim that it’s the disqualified Dug team taking it’s anger out on the front runners! They aren’t successful in taking anyone out of lead position and quickly run into the velker flock.
Kruas and Guffy cross the last maker in first place, winning the Cloud City Grand Prix

The waiting crowd erupts into thunderous cheer as they prepare for landing in the winner’s berth, adrenaline still running hot in their veins. Journalist and fans eager to get holo-stills of the winning team clamor for an action shot, the flashes from their devices so numerous and blinding that Kraus nearly botches the landing. Once the car’s struts finally settle on the ferrocrete, the barricade containing the crowd collapses beneath the excitement, and a rush of eager celebrants surround the vehicle to be among the first to congratulate the newest victors of the Cloud City Grand Prix.

There’s not much time, but Kraus and Guffy get themselves cleaned up and head to the auction. Gunsha takes the time to acquire some last minute tech including a com jammer, electronic lock breaker, restraining bolts, and stun grenades. Then sits back at the warehouse monitoring the events through the private datapads they were given/ Xagrab shows up with gear for the heist including climbing kits and ion weapons, as well as a new a cybernetic arm.

The party is already in full swing and Aanchi is there with Mil Mikkir socializing with the Cloud City elite and outrim’s well to do. Not too long into the party a Twi’lek business tycoon approaches the racers, telling them he heard they’d taken out a Velker and offers them a job transporting some Krayt dragon eggs and youngling to Nar Shaddaa. They take his contact info and tell them they’ll consider it. Droids bring around datapads to the bidders for the Jewel of Chandrila and it’s obvious that Kaltho the Hutt is in the lead position for the first few rounds. The mysterious older bidder, Elaiza disappears from the auction soon after the first round of bidding.

Taking the opportunity to speak to Pos Podura, Aanchi charms him into revealing that he has conned his way into the auction and doesn’t have the credits to pay for the Jewel, but is only doing it for the affection of Shreya Ordasa and drunkenly stirred by her words puts in an exorbitant bid. With this she approaches Shreya and tells her of the Pos’ love and deception. She quickly leaves and escorts him out of the auction, returning soon after.

Lando Calrissian, Baron Administer of Cloud City, attends the gala for a short time flanked by his head of security, Lobot and several Wing Guards. He moves about speaking to everyone, making nice with the guest and congratulating Kraus and Guffy. They attempt to get some kind of contract to take out more Velkors, but Lando just tells them to get in contact with his people. Gunsha manages to intercept a coded message to Lobot from Lando, “Too much crooked in this place, keep an eye out.” Gunsha can use the encryption to his advantage during the slicing job.

A suave human male approaches Guffy and Kraus, “I’m not sure if you’re very stupid or very smart, but you do realize that every bounty hunter in the region will soon see your faces as the news gets out about your winning the race, yes? I plan on collecting the bounty on both of you, perhaps I can play off the two sides against each other, the Hutts and the Black Sun. Drive up the price on both of you.” Guffy and Kruas ready for a fight, but the bounty hunter just waves them off, “Oh, no, not here, but soon” He finishes his drink and leaves the party. Gunsha manages to pull up his info a Corellian named Tysabri Virdine. Xagrab leaves the warehouse off to find the bounty hunter.

Vorse Tabarith recognizes Aanchi is with Mil Mikker and warns him of his sorted past telling her to tell him if he wants the evidence that would ruin his career back, he can come make an offer. They get to chatting about the auction, and soon Aanchi convinces him to place the winning bid for 300,000 credits. Kaltho is visibly upset at losing the auction and leaves heated with his entourage in tow.

Side Tracked

The final day to make plans and preparations is upon the spacers. Much remains to be done. The crew still needs to procure Ion weapons and possibly explosives, tail Marus Grayson’s security, and lock down a plan for infiltrating the museum.

While Guffy and Kraus test out the cloud car’s handling (and get a close look at Bespin’s wildlife) and Gunsha puts the finishing touches on the data spike for slicing the winning bid, Xagrab finds himself standing sentry for Kaltho the Hutt – an important bidder for the Jewel of Chandrila.

Inside the 3 Beldons Buffet, Kaltho sits at a long table. Normally reserved for a large party, the Hutt dines alone, moving down the table sampling the many dishes laid out before him. Kaltho is a unique Hutt, smaller and slimmer then most. He relishes each dish slowly and does not gorge himself like most Hutts are known to do. From the kitchen, Kaltho’s private chef comes with one last plate and sets it at the head of the table. Kaltho approaches, inhales deeply, “Ah Mon Calamari kenthar steak.” The Ortolan chef bows and adds, “...with a tartar sauce of Naboo origin. I felt it would compliment the fish better then the traditional mon cal sauce” With a delicate fork, Kaltho samples the dish. “Hmmmm…..exquisite, Na’don, simply exquisite – you make live another day” The Hutt begins to laugh in a deep hardy tone. The Ortalan laughs along and soon the whole room of guards join in on what may or may not be a joke. “You honor me, sir, truly… if there will be nothing else…” “No, no – anything else would ruin it. Begin prepping my lunch” With a bow the blue squat chef leaves to the kitchen and the front doors open. Three humans enter, a slightly older dressed finely flanked by two guards. Kerek slides over to Xagrab who is raising his blaster arm, “just keep your eyes open for now”

Kaltho greets him warmly, “Marus Grayson – come in – welcome. Please feel free to have anything you like” He gestures to the table of picked over dishes. Grayson sneers,
“No… I’m not hungry… but thank you.”
“Suit yourself, but my chef is world class”
“I’m sure… but I’m afraid I haven’t the time”
“Yes, I understand greatly, it is why I have asked you here. My time is precious itself, and though my business runs like a finely tuned speeder – it goes to waste when its driver is away, you understand? Call off this silly auction and allow me to make you a generous offer on the Jewel. The sooner I have it, the sooner I may return to Nar Shaddaa and the sooner you shall be rich”
“Ah, well, as a businessman you can appreciate the position that would put me in. My trust and reputation would be tarnished”
“This is no thing that tarnishes a reputation. Least one of an upstanding Imperial citizen. That is why you auction it off away from Empire’s gaze, yes?”
“Perhaps, dear Kaltho, you forget that the Empire – though mighty – does not control the whole galaxy and a man’s reputation is not confined to political boundries – No? I do understand your wanting to return to your endevers, but such a well crafted machine shouldn’t rust so quickly”
Coldly, the Hutt responds, “No. It does not”
A Twi’lek guard approaches Karak and whispers something in his ear. Xagrab has not noticed that Aanchi has just been lead to the back of the restaurant.
“Besides,” Grayson continues, “we still have a race to attend. I hear its shaping up to be a crowd pleaser. I do hope you’ll stop by my private viewing box”
“Perhaps, but I do have my own, and mine will be better catered, I’m sure”
“Then I shall see you at the gala, Kaltho, good day”

Grayson and his guards leave. Once away Kaltho slams a slimy fist down on the table furiously letting off a string of expletives in Huttese. Karak moves to Xagrab, “Escort him back to the hotel – I have something to do here.”

Back at the opulent hotel room, well kept by Hutt standards, and full of Kaltho’s entourage, the Hutt turns to Xagrab. “Karak tells me you have been erratic lately. Disappearing without explanation. Acting in a manor not consistent with you resume.” Xagrab responds, “Who told you of my resume! I’ll kill him!” Kaltho raises his eyes. “He believes you are suffering from some kind of short in your cybernetics. I can’t have these kinds of risks in my organization. I want you checked by my medical droid”

Xagrab is ushered into a room by three alien thugs and a Gamorrean Guard. A medical droid moves toward him and Xagrab attacks it, smashing the droid to scrap. From the doorway Kaltho looks on, “A pity. Dispose of him” The thugs open fire on him and before he can even act the Gamorrean Guard rushes him, smashing his huge axe, and Xagrab is down.

Back at the apartment hideout, Aanchi has returned careful not to be followed and Guffy and Kraus tell their tale of taking down a velker. Aris assembles them, “Where is Xagrab? Oh it doesn’t matter there’s still work to be done! You still have to get those ion weapons and make your final preparations for the infiltrating the museum and follow up on Grayson’s security. Up to this point, Gunsha is only one doing anything for the heist!” Aanchi objects and Aris calms herself, “Yes, I’m sorry, it’s true you have done well manipulating some of the bidders. Shreya Ordassa has taken out a loan to supplement the grant money her academy has provided. So you must have said the right thing to her friend and Vorse is moving money around as well, but there’s still other bidders. Things didn’t go so well with the Hutt… Good news though for Gunsha, daddy has framed an employee of his for your screw up with the computers. Even planted a holographic disguise with your image in it in the guys apartment and wiped your debt from record to keep you out of the system. There is still the matter of the forensic droid that will examine the confiscated computer. It has a daily memory wipe being done at a government facility on the plaza level. You’ll need to reprogram it. In other news, the Dug team has been disqualified for cheating already. Security around the race has increased so you’ll need to win it on your own. The car is ready at a private berth now”

After some argument on who will go get the Ion weapons, it’s agreed that someone should find Xagrab. Gunsha pings his datapad and locates it in the processing vane in the lower levels. Kraus and Guffy are volunteered to find him.

Gunsha get a disguise together and heads to the plaza level facility where the droid is being held. He manages to talk his way in past the front desk and reprogram the droid to wipe the computer. He’s almost caught when the front desk clerk follows up on his work order, but again manages to talk his way out, claiming confusion as to where he’s suppose to be doing his maintenance.

Aanchi heads to the hotel bar at the Yarith Bespin and finds Mil Mirkkir among his colleges. She gets his attention by fainning a lovers spat with Kaltho the Hutt. Mirkkir is intrigued and speaks of his own woes and invites her to join him for a drink. After some more talk of love gone wrong he suggests she come to the gala as his guest, making both their exes jealous in the process.

Down at the processing vane, Guffy and Kraus find themselves entering a carbanite freezing chamber. Xagrab is on the platform surrounded by six thugs and the Gamorrean Guard. Kraus’ attempt to deceive them fails quickly and the open fire on him and Guffy. The Gamorrean moves in and attacks with his massive ax. Guffy mananges to destroy the freezing chamber controls with a lucky shot, saving Xagrab from being encased in carbonite, but the thugs overpower them.

The trio come to floating in bacta tanks. Outside the tanks medical droids and the Bespin Wing Guard look on. One by one they’re pulled out and questioned. The guards explain how they found the three of them in the chamber surrounded by known criminals after a blaster fight which claimed the lives of most there and some Wing Guards they were brought up to the medical bay in the Security tower. Kraus and Guffy fain ignorance claiming that Xagrab was a member of their race team they were trying to find. The guards treat them favorably after learning of their race affiliation, and after holding them for a little while they release the pair. They stay away from the apartment and get hotel rooms on the plaza level.

They keep Xagrab, believing him to be mentally ill and a danger. They treat him kindly and proceed to examine him further. Xagrab once again attacks the medical droid that goes to examine him and escapes the medical wing. He brawls with the Wing Guard who attempt to stun him and then escapes into the streets of Bespin, alarms blaring behind him.

Test Flight

Star Wars: Edge of the Empire
The Jewel of Chandrila

The Spacers are now One day out from the Cloud City Grand Prix, the gala auction, and the heist to steal the Jewel of Chandrila. Information has been collected on most of the bidders and manipulations of their motivations have already begun. Each member of the crew has their task, but time grows short to bring all the elements together and the authorities are already suspicious of them.

Predawn outside Cloud City, Guffy and Kraus check out the handling on a rented cloud car. Its a standard model with the only modifications being power dampened blasters that only stun and a micro tractor beam for utility purposes. Kraus gets a feel for the handling, taking note of its drag.

The car flies through a massive cloud bank the life form scanners go off. Though visual range is near zero, a flash of a massive maw is seen as a creature flies up and over the cloud car. “Velkers!”, Guffy shouts. The car starts to be jostled from all sides, bumped by the massive ray like creatures.

Coming out of the cloud bank they spot 4 velkers flying in formation around their car. Guffy is excited to have the chance to hunt. Kraus speeds ahead and flips around taking the creatures head on. Guffy unleashes with the car’s blaster fire, knocking out one of the creatures early on and sending it tumbling down into Bespin’s atmosphere.

One of the Velkers gets in close and uses it’s bioelectric field to send a surge through the car, knocking out the scanners, the next two swoop in. One takes a massive bite out of the port pod, breaching the hull. A few more shots with the cars blasters doesn’t do anything to keep the creatures back. Before Guffy can get himself strapped in and open the pod to fire on the creatures with his hunting blaster, one of the creatures slams into the car, wrapping itself around his pod. It attacks with its electric field causing further system strain. Guffy attempts to do something about the creature, but a system flush and blaster fire doesn’t accomplish anything. Kraus finally gets it shaken off and Guffy opens the pod and begins to fire on the creatures in pursuit. Though difficult in the high winds he manages to score a few hits the velkers, killing one.

Dawn shines through the clouds quickly and the life form scanners flicker massive readings. Just ahead a school of beldons float up from the clouds below, expanding in the morning sun. Kraus slows and attempts to evade the the giant creatures all while keeping the car from any further damage from the velkers. One attaches itself to a beldon then Kraus loses the last with some top notch flying through the field of beldons.

Though the car is on its last legs they manages circle back and tractor in the kill. Returning to Cloud City. The rental office manager is furious over the state of his ruined car, but after some threats of a lawsuit he shrugs off the damage to insurance. He pays the bounty on the velker of 5,000 credits. Guffy and Kraus collect some teeth from the creature before leaving.

Meanwhile, back at the apartment, “Gunsha Murglak” works feverishly to complete the data spike for the slice job. The first has some critical flaws and in anger he throws it out to the winds of Bespin. Aris spots him the creds for the materials to create a new one but warns, “It’s coming out of your cut.” The next attempt is a success and should aid him well in diverting the credits.

Aanchi heads out to breakfast at the Three Beldons Buffet, by suggestion of Aris. All are unaware that Xagrab guards Kaltho the Hutt there now. She finds a Twi’lek and a Gank standing outside. The Twi’lek sneers, “Private party. Is closed now” Aanchi continues to prod asking when it would be open, who’s in there, but the thugs give her nothing. The Gank wrings his hands on his blaster rifle, ready for an excuse, when Aanchi says, “Oh, I thought Kaltho was in there”. When Aanchi doesn’t give a sufficient answer for thugs as to what she’s doing there he gives her the answer, “As a matter of fact, Hutt is in there, and would very much like to know who you are!” He marches her in through the restaurant where she spies Xagrab, though he doesn’t see her and Kaltho the Hutt speaking to Marus Greyson. She’s thrown in a janitors closet and waits for hours.

The door opens and a mean looking human steps in, scar down his face. He begins to question Aanchi and is a hard man to deceive. He doesn’t believe that the only reason shes there is tell Kaltho that Vorse is making moves to get the jewel, so she concocts a story of a group of Sullistan thugs overheard Vorse and plan to mug Kaltho and tried to get her to help. She requests protection from the imaginary thugs and the man asks where she’s staying. She says shes nowhere yet so he tells her once she gets a place to comm him and he’d send a guard over. He lets her out and she exits through the restaurant, now full of patrons. Outside she spots the Gank from the door following her. She boldly approaches and asks if he’s there to protect her. He only responds in his native tongue and then walks away fading into the crowd. Unnerved, Aanchi heads to the casino, but no one of note is there this early in the day.

Heist Homework

The plan to steal the JEWEL OF CHANDRILA is in motion! Having gathered preliminary information on the bidders and racers it’s now time to start to dig deeper into their lives and personal motivations.

While the rest of the crew is making plans for the heist – Guffy Gar’gar and Kraus Gilb have headed for the seedy side of Cloud City – looking to score spice and infomations on the Cloud City Grand Prix.

The pair of spacers find themselves at The Podracers Retirement, a popular hangout for various mechanics and other crew members involved in the race. Greasy in more ways then one, the cantina is dimly lit and tainted with a vague undertone of hydraulic fluid beneath the reek of heated swill. Most of the patrons are dressed in shabby and oil-stained coveralls, as is the cantina staff itself.

They take a seat at the bar and start drinking, grilling the bar tender about the upcoming race. The bar tender points out Ol’ Sav sitting in the corner for more information. They come to him with drinks. Charming him proves to be difficult, but after a couple of pints of Corellian Ale he loosens up a bit. Ol’ Sav has been on a race team every year since the beginning, but this year is the first he’s not participating “Too old for these young’ens, I’d reckon, no ones offered me a job.”

Kraus attempts to get him to reveal how they might get their hands on a cloudcar to try out before the race, but he only can suggest they buy one or rent a striped down tourist model from the upper level. The spacers press on him for information about the race teams, but he doesn’t offer anything more then what they’ve already found out. He does however point them to two possible leads for copilots. One’s in retirement after a close call in the Grand Prix a few years back and the other is a young upstart named Thera Morrow. She’s placed well in the amateur circuit the past three years, but hasn’t found the sponsorship to get into the Grand Prix. She can be found up at landing bay P4.

Lastly, Kraus clumsly attempts to ask him where booster blue can be found. Ol’ Sav sees right through him and warns him to not get too caught up in the stuff, but points him to a docking bay around level 124. Down at the back door of the bay, after a secret knock, the dealer sells the pair 5 canisters. Guffy holds onto 2, Kruas downs one and holds onto the other two. They ask the dealer about explosives and the shifty human tells them to find Moz Boshaw, a Trandosian weapons dealer operating out of Market Row.

Meanwhile, Xagrab wonders through the halls of Cloud City, when someone yells his name in his native tongue. A Gank approaches him “Xagrab! Where you been you kriffin’ chiphead. Kerek is about the blow a gasket with you disappearing! I made excuses as much as I could, but you better have a good reason you gone or a good lie. We go see him. He’s down at the 4 1/2 Bar now. You lucky he’s happy drunk. You not so lucky if he’s mad drunk.”

At the 4 1/2, Kerek, a grizzled human with a scarred face. sits at the corner booth. “Were ya been Xagrab, I’ve been trying to comm you for days?!”
“We’re getting the jewel and all the money, no comms, comms bad, comms tracked.”
“Yeah. Yeah, well the sooner we get the Hutt gets he’s jewel the better and we can get back to Nar Shaddaa. Bought tired of being stuck with that slug. Look I want you on duty tomorrow with me to escort the Hutt to brunch at The Three Beldons Buffet.”
“I like buffets. Good food.”
“Something tells me the Hutt ain’t gunna share with us. You’re to meet us at the lobby of the Yarith Bespin Hotel where he’s staying. Got that?”
“Meet at the hotel. Go to buffet. Got it.”
“And here – take this comm and answer it when I call next time.”
“Got it.”
As Xagrab leaves the bar he tosses the comm.

Later, everyone is back at the apartment when Xagrab arrives. He announces to the assembled group_"I’ve got an in to the auction. I work for the Hutt. I’m security."_ The others aren’t sure if that’s something that just happened or why Xagrab is on Bespin in the first place and asking him doesn’t do much to clear it up.

“Gunsha Murglak” toils away at planning the computer spike needed to slice the bank when an alarm goes off. On the wall screen four images appear. One a few out the front door where 3 Bespin Wing Guard stand. Another a top down view of the front entrance showing the same 3 Wing Guard. The next the main hall to the left showing 3 more Wing Guard. And the last showing to the right of the main hall with a Wing Guard Commander with a handheld holoprojected image.

Aris comes out from the rear room dressed in regal purple gown, putting an earring on. She looks up to the wallscreen and gasps! “You idiot!”, she shouts at Gunsha. She waves he hand and the last image enlarges to fill the screen. The holo image he holds is of Gunsha. “They’ve already made you!… and we haven’t even begun” Over the intercom, “Bespin Wing Guard! Open up, we have some questions” Aris begins to pace, “We have to get rid of them – Ideas – now!”

After a little debate, it’s decided that Gunsha should escape out the balcony. Using Guffy’s climbing gear he scales up to the next level and waits while Aris and Aanchi deal with the authorities. Guffy and Kraus sit looking bored at the wallscreen and Xagrab makes a mess in the kitchen attempting to look like the help.

“Unauthorized attempts to access The Central Bank of Bespin have been traced to this apartment. We’re looking for a individual seen accessing a public terminal and then coming here before the breaches were made.” Aanchi does a convincing job at passing this off as the reason they thought the apartment was broken into. The guards question why they didn’t report it, but she tells them they couldn’t be sure it wasn’t just the cyborg assistant they have, “He’s been… malfunctioning. And there was nothing missing so… Excuse us, but we were just about go out for the evening.” She indicates Guffy and Kraus on the couch and lets the guards fill in the details, but the guards brush it off. “That’s fine we’ll examine the apartment while you’re away.” “Is that really necessary if we have nothing to report missing?” “We still need to examine the computer… I’m afraid we’ll have to confiscate it” “Oh, very well. Xagrab would you bring the computer terminal to the officers.” “Yes. Yes. I’ll bring it.” Xagrab rips out the terminal without unhooking it and smashes the sides of it as he carries it over. It wont be turning on anytime soon, but Aris knows that they’ll have droids able to access the data within a day or so regardless. She comms her father and then leaves for the casino with Aanchi. The guys bring Gunsha back in from outside.

Later, Arend arrives with his silver protocol droid carrying a new computer. “Do try to be more careful with this one” Kraus tells him that they’ll need to get to the cloudcar to work on it for the race and get a feel for flying it, but Arend informs them it wont be available till midday tomorrow. In the meantime they can go to Cloud Scape Tours and get a rental using his offices as reference. “Now, we’ll have to deal with the authorities sooner rather then later. They mustn’t suspect any one of us.”

At the Pair O’Dice Casino, Aanchi heads to the sabacc tables and finds the two members of the Stormhawks. She attempts to grill them over the rumor of their marriage, but gets no answers. She concocts a plan to have Chara Tull catch her with Gerrol Hunn before the race to throw off their teamwork. At the bar she spots Leina, Shreya Ordassa’s friend, sitting near Aris. She gets Aris in on convincing her they’re the only two left of a girls night out. Leina is despondent, upset over Shreya not being around. Too busy with procuring the jewel over her ex, Mil Mikkir. She does spill some that there is someone else around from Shreya’s life, a twi’lek. Aanchi plays up that if Shreya can get this jewel then she’ll be able to see her friend and have the nice vacation she’s wanting.

Meanwhile, Aris has left to get into an argument with Vorse Tabarith, her husband. He’s drunk and yelling about a betrayal of one of his men. After Aris storms away Aanchi speaks to Vorse, who, while drunk, attempts to compose himself. He apologies for the outburst, hopes shes’ having a good time at his casino. They talk about the upcoming Grand Prix and asks if he’ll be attending the race. He tells her he has money on the Dugg racing team.

She plays to his ego talking about what a big shot he must be and how “that woman”, Aris, is lucky to have him and she’s sure she’ll come around. He begins to talk about the jewel and how she’ll be kowtowed once he’s got it for her, but he talks about a Hutt wanting it too. She again plays to his ego saying that he can’t have a “dirty Hutt” take it over him. Vorse is spurred by this, seems to get an idea and agrees. He calls to the droid bartender telling it that Aanchi drinks free the rest of the night then digs into his pocket and leaves a handful of chips totaling 150 credits for her and leaves.

Shadow Port Blues

Star Wars: Edge of the Empire
The Jewel of Chandrila

Its origin and history shrouded in legend, THEJEWEL OF CHANDRILA is one of the largest and most beautiful corusea gems in the galaxy. By luck or by fate, a group of enterprising individuals have the chance of a lifetime to steal the precious stone from its current owner in the idyllic CLOUDCITY.

Their contact, a canny Pantoran by the name of ARISSHEN has arranged a meeting at a bar in the shadowy Port Town in the center of the massive floating metropolis, but she is not alone nor are past debts and sins far behind…

The assortment of spacers have gathered at the rowdy and ruckus establishment The 4 1/2. Gunsha Murglak sits in a corner booth attempting to tap into the local infonet. Kraus Gilb and Guffy Gar’gar gather at a table taking in their surroundings. Aanchi is at the bar listening to the drunken locals and Xagrab movies to each empty spot picking off the leavings from beneath the tables.

A plethora of drunken species shout in uncountable languages over the wailing Jatz band. All manner of illicit activity openly occurs in the seedy dive which distracts most from seeing the bar’s latest patron arrive.

A Pantoran female, slim and attractive, slips nimbly into crowd – scanning the bar and then walking a circuit passing each of the spacers. As she does she presses a button on her wrist comm as she nears. The datapads they were given as their initial contact and instructed to bring light up with a new message.

“Have a tail. 6 goons in black leather and goggles just behind me. Have to loose first. Help if you can. NO KILLING. Meet around side at droid access hatch. – Aris -”

The spacers attempt to get a look at goons but only Kraus notices the pack of thugs. Two Rodian, Two Humans, a Trandoshan and Lutrellian stand around toward the entrance. Guffy moves to the bar to get a better look when a Twi’lek bounty hunter moves into his spot, blaster drawn on Kraus. “Koona t’chuta, Gilb?” he says in Huttese. Kraus manages to keep his cool and convince him he’s working on something bigger then the Black Sun debt he owes pointing out the crowd of goons following Aris. The Twi’lek is skeptical but leaves Kraus to speak to the group who have now moved a little further into the bar looking for Aris.

Guffy moves back to the table and asks, “Wha’d the tailhead want?”. Kraus keeps his big red eyes on the Twi’lek and thugs, only responding with “Get ready to get out of here”. Within moments the goons have surrounded the Twi’lek bounty hunter and an argument erupts. Aris makes eye contact with Aanchi and gives a flick of her head toward the entrance, moving from the darkened booth out the door. Aanchi, Guffy, and Kraus follow soon after. A last message from Aris to Xagrab and Gunsha reads, “You coming?”. As Gunsha walks out, head buried in his datapad probing the infonet’s vulnerabilities, blaster fire can be heard inside the bar behind him.

Crowded in the droid access lift, Aris muses over the access hatches, air ducts, and garbage shoots being the most undetected way to move through Cloud City. She thanks the group for coming and the distraction from her husband’s protectors and tells them they are on the way to meet her father on the 50th level.

Aris opens the door to an apartment, handing the keycard to Gunsha as they enter. Inside they see a middle aged Pantoran male dressed in fine robes of deep maroon and blues which play well on his skin. He stands “Welcome. I’m so glad we could all make it. Aris, darling, be a dear and make our guest some drinks. I am Arend Shen tax administrator here in Cloud City and through my various contacts I’ve learned of each of you and your certain skill sets, as well as your …obligations… which would make you more…responsive to my employment opportunity. Now what I have to propose is confidential, illegal, and potentially quite dangerous, BUT if successful could pay out in the hundreds of thousands, maybe more. In addition, I can help most of you with your problems, at least locally. Do I have everyone’s attention?”

Everyone grunts approval and Arend continues. “I thought so. Now in a few days time an auction is to occur at the Figg and Associates museum at a gala concluding the annual Cloud City Grand Prix. The object of interest is a gem known as the jewel of Chandrila. Its a cut corusca gem with a reputation of being unstealable. Presumably because those that own it spend its worth protecting it, but fortunately for us the museum is not designed to protect something so valuable, giving us our best chance to nab it… but I don’t want to steal it once, oh no, I plan on stealing it twice.” He lingers taking in their perplexed looks and grins. “To do this we first will have to infiltrate the gala, using the information we gather on the bidders we manipulate them into going as high as they could possible go, then divert the credits into our account, and before the transaction clears the bank actually steal the jewel and sell it to an underworld contact. …You have questions, I imagine.”

Guffy growls, “Sell to who? Sell to Hutts? I don’t deal with no Hutts” Arend frowns momentary before putting on another smile, “We will gladly take a Hutts money if it means we are richer and they are poorer and left with a bobble of no value to us.”

Kruas pipes in, “What’s the cut?”. “Equal shares among the seven of us including Aris. 14.285% to be exact, with the remaining .005% being used to buy us a bottle or two of something nice to celebrate with. Even this meager percentile should be in the thousands if all goes to plan” , Arend responds. Other questions come from each of the spacers in turn.

Who are these bidders? “Seven have registered. I haven’t gathered more then their names and pictures. Shreya Ordassa, Pos Podura, Mil Mikkir, Kaltho the Hutt, Zekra Fol, a woman simply named Elaiza, and Aris’ husband Vorse Tabarith.”

How do we get into this gala? “The most straight forward way (and least conspicuous given your backgrounds) to obtain an invitation will be to enter the Cloud City Grand Prix. Winning will not be easy, the 30k credit prize is a big draw on a lot of pilots, but simply placing while putting on a good show should be enough. I have a Cloud Car you may borrow for the race and will front the entry fee.”

What of the account we divert the winning bid to? “I’ve set up a dummy account untraceable to any of us. The relevant routing and account numbers are on a datapad there on the table”

How do we pull off this heist? “I leave it to you to develop your plan. You’ll need to do some reconnaissance to get around security. The less I know the better.”

Where do we go when we’re done? “I’ll have a get away speeder waiting nearby you’ll bring to my yacht which I’ll have primed for our escape to a nearby system. There we’ll divide the funds, celebrate, and go where we will”

“Now let us enjoy our drinks, get to know one another. Gunsha, I first heard of you when a notice came though my office of someone owing 30K credits in back taxes from gambling winnings… that must be an error, 3K is much more realistic number to owe” Gunsha catches on and agrees, “Must have been an error, thank you for catching it, your eminence.”

Arend continues on, “And Aanchi, we’ve moved in similar circles for a little while now. I’m saddened to learn of your family, but perhaps it will please you to learn the current owner of the jewel is an Imperial.

Ten years ago I came to know him while working at a bank in the core. Investments when south and rather then paying his debts, this man Marus Grayson – an Imperial Trade and Commerce Commissioner, used his connections to draw up treason charges against the bank. The assets were frozen and despite never coming to trial I was ruined. I’ve worked here in Cloud City since then. The new Baron Administrator Calrissian is hell bent on cleaning up corruption here in the city. I knew it was time to take my leave when I came to learn of Marus Grayson’s auction. We needed worry of the Empire coming after us though, recently coruca gems were outlawed, which is why Grayson has set up the auction here outside the Empire’s gaze."

More stories are swapped. Of Kraus Gilb’s selling of a Black Sun ship for credits to buy booster blue. Of Guffy’s betrayal to the Hutt he was a slave to. And of Xagrab’s most recent employment by the Hutts before he wandered off.

A silver protocol droid dressed in robes similar to Arend’s, lets itself into the apartment. “I have matters to attend to, but you’re welcome to use this place as a base of operations. It’s fairly well located in the city. Aris will be available to aid you and should you need to speak to me, act as liaison. Good luck.” With that he leaves and Aris emerges from a rear bedroom now changed into a fine gown.

She addresses the group. “The datapads we’ve assigned to you are all biometrically locked to you and send encrypted messages to one another. Try to avoid comms, use codes if you do. Obviously the datapads are linked to the local infonet though not the Imperial channels. And they feature a holorecorder which should come in handy for recon and investigation.”

“If your investigations of the bidders bring you to my husbands casino, message me. We must not be seen together or have any hint we know one another.” You’re pulling one over on your husband to, huh? “My father arranged the marriage when we arrived. Vorse used to be big time, but now is just jealous and paranoid. His power is slipping and I want to make my own way. Getting him to sign on to the auction was too easy, kinda pathetic really. He’ll do anything to keep up appearances. I’ll be manipulating him at the gala.”

Gunsha moves to the computer to start gathering information. He probes the banks connection to the infonet and discerns he’ll need a sample of encryption they use, most likely from a droid at the bank. He also learns of Lobot, head of Cloud City security. Later he slips away to a nearby info terminal to get schematics of the museum then brings them back to show off to the group.

Xagrab wanders off to the museum as the group attempts to decipher them. Not far behind Aanchi joins him. There they make note of the security’s patrol route. Aanchi sees the camera placement and learns of extra security the night of the gala , and Xagrab makes note of the garbage shoot in a janitorial closet near where the jewel is kept. Anachi also learns the most expensive artifacts are in the Reflections of Xim exhibit, and begins to form a plan of diversion.

Guffy and Kraus go off to score some booster blue and find out about the race.